Chapter 37: Qian Yuling Appears

Chapter 37: Qian Yuling Appears

Faced with Chai Xiu's earnest plea, Qin Ruonan could only respond that solving cases was her duty and she would devote herself wholeheartedly to the task. After offering a few comforting words and waiting until Chai Xiu’s emotions gradually settled, she seized the opportunity to inquire about her usual relationship with Zhang Lei.

Regarding Zhang Lei, Chai Xiu refrained from outright defamation, though it was easy to detect subtle resentment toward the hot-tempered young man between her words. What she said seemed carefully measured; she never directly voiced her grievances, yet her meaning was quite clear.

Chai Xiu explained that she and Zhang Lei had very different personalities. She hadn’t originally lived in City C but had moved there after a divorce and because of her child, hoping to escape a painful past. After being hired at a certain fitness center, her reputation among members steadily improved, earning the owner’s favor. Coincidentally, Zhang Lei’s ex-girlfriend had also been a fitness instructor there, teaching classes similar to Chai Xiu’s. Since Chai Xiu’s arrival, the ex-girlfriend’s popularity waned; many clients who once trained with her switched allegiance to Chai Xiu, which upset that young woman greatly. On several occasions, she urged Zhang Lei to complain to the owner, hoping to secure prime-time teaching slots for herself while pushing Chai Xiu to less favorable hours, thereby gaining some preferential treatment in private coaching recommendations.

Though the owner was Zhang Lei’s uncle, as the fitness center’s proprietor, business interests naturally took precedence. Seeing Chai Xiu’s growing popularity and the ex-girlfriend’s decline, the owner refused to accommodate such requests that would harm the center’s interests. This displeased the ex-girlfriend, who felt Zhang Lei hadn’t exerted enough effort on her behalf. In a fit of anger, she resigned and left, ending her relationship with Zhang Lei.

From that point on, Zhang Lei grew increasingly hostile toward Chai Xiu, blaming her for ruining his affairs and affecting his love life. He often mocked her sarcastically, accusing her of false sanctimony and playing the virtuous role.

As for how much of this narrative reflected Chai Xiu’s personal bias, it was difficult to determine. Qin Ruonan could only make a tentative judgment based on Chai Xiu’s visible emotions.

After speaking with Chai Xiu, Qin Ruonan also contacted the fitness center owner—not to intervene in Zhang Lei’s teaching of physical education to elementary students, since Zhang Lei had not caused tangible harm to the children and there was no direct link to Fang Wan’s disappearance. This matter was beyond the scope of her jurisdiction as a detective. What she could do was advise the owner to supervise and caution Zhang Lei, to prevent any impulsive or irrational acts that might harm either the children or Chai Xiu.

The owner took the warning seriously. Admitting that his nephew was at fault and grateful that no baseless accusations had been made, he courteously apologized to Qin Ruonan and hoped she would consider Zhang Lei’s youth and immaturity, urging her not to exaggerate the incident.

Qin Ruonan withheld judgment. First, the gravity of the situation was not hers to decide; second, even if it were somewhat overstated, it might serve to keep Zhang Lei on edge and encourage him to act more cautiously in the future, which was not a bad outcome.

After leaving the fitness center, Qin Ruonan met with An Changpu to share their findings. Although Qin Ruonan had encountered the Zhang Lei episode, it remained confined to the fitness center. An Changpu’s efforts had been more strenuous, covering many locations. The doctor who had tangled with Qian Yuling—the notorious womanizing physician—appeared to have little connection to Fang Wan’s case. Around the time of Fang Wan’s disappearance, the doctor’s whereabouts were consistent; he maintained regular work hours, including night shifts. The hospital where he worked was undergoing a strict inspection by higher authorities, with rigorous attendance checks on medical staff, making it nearly impossible for him to have committed a crime during that period.

Another crucial point was that this doctor’s flirtations extended beyond one or two women. He was infamous for his womanizing in the hospital. For those who refused to comply with his advances, he resorted to verbal abuse but never engaged in any substantial reprisals. It was said that Qian Yuling had chosen to resign partly because of his persistent harassment and mainly due to the emotional exhaustion brought on by her divorce.

During the investigation into the doctor’s conduct, An Changpu also inquired among Qian Yuling’s close friends and acquaintances about the so-called “fierce-faced man.” After questioning several people, one claimed to have seen the man depicted in the sketch and confirmed that Qian Yuling had dealings with a man bearing a somewhat menacing appearance. Unfortunately, when asked for his name or his relationship with Qian Yuling, the witness could not provide details, only stating that they had seen him but knew little else.

Though disappointing, this at least confirmed that the “fierce-faced man” was a real individual and not a fictitious character fabricated by Fang Da to cover up illicit dealings related to Qian Yuling.

With this breakthrough, the team felt confident enough to pursue a focused investigation into the identity of the “fierce-faced man.”

After recounting the Zhang Lei situation to An Changpu, he pondered seriously for a moment before advising that while Zhang Lei should be monitored, the main focus of their investigation should not shift to him. Qin Ruonan agreed with this assessment.

Thus, their primary task remained to locate Qian Yuling and identify the “fierce-faced man.”

The investigation stretched over two full days. Qin Ruonan and An Changpu nearly exhausted themselves tracing Qian Yuling’s network in City C, yet she remained elusive. Moreover, few people in her circle had ever encountered the “fierce-faced man,” let alone knew anything about him.

On the third day, just as their concern for Qian Yuling’s situation deepened, a breakthrough occurred: Qian Yuling, long missing, took the initiative to contact Qin Ruonan. She called to arrange a meeting and appeared punctually at the Serious Crimes Division office.

What surprised everyone was that she was not alone. Accompanying her was another person—someone who astonished both Qin Ruonan and An Changpu.

The “fierce-faced man,” the mysterious figure so difficult to trace, stood beside Qian Yuling in the division’s office. Seeing his face, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the sketch, left both detectives momentarily speechless. They wondered whether to marvel at the artist’s skill or to ponder the man’s intentions and identity.

The “fierce-faced man” looked exactly as depicted. His naturally fierce countenance was marked by thick, dark eyebrows arching sharply, a prominent frown line between them that gave the impression of a bad temper. His sturdy, muscular frame strained the sleeves of his coat, adding to his intimidating aura.

In stark contrast, Qian Yuling appeared like a sickly, emaciated cat beside a Tibetan mastiff—listless and haggard.

Not much time had passed since their last meeting, yet the drastic change in Qian Yuling’s complexion stunned Qin Ruonan. The woman before her seemed to have aged ten years in just days.

She had never been a full-figured woman, but now she looked gaunt, as if overnight someone had drained most of the fat from her body, leaving only skin stretched thin over underdeveloped muscles and bones.

Qian Yuling appeared utterly depleted of energy. When first met, her hair was somewhat disheveled; now it was neglected, loosely gathered at the back with a clip. Her cheeks sagged with rapid weight loss, heavy dark circles under her eyes looked almost artificially painted, her lips cracked and bleeding, stark against their pale hue. Her neck, thinned by emaciation, seemed barely able to support her head.

Her clothing was dirty and rumpled—a wrinkled windbreaker and similarly soiled trousers, the cuffs stained with dried mud. City C had just experienced a sharp drop in temperature following the onset of winter; others on the street had long switched from light jackets to thick, warm coats, making Qian Yuling’s attire seem ill-suited to the cold.

Qin Ruonan found her clothes oddly familiar. After some thought, she realized it was the very outfit Qian Yuling had worn the day she and An Changpu had been invited to her home to hear her recount the evidence against Xia Ying. From head to toe, she had not changed.

Judging by the wrinkles and dirt, it seemed not only had she not changed clothes, but perhaps she had never even taken them off.

Qian Yuling gave no reaction to Qin Ruonan’s gaze. On the phone, her voice had been weak and listless; now, standing in the office, she seemed absent-minded, her empty eyes fixed on the floor before her, ignoring everyone silently.

“Are you alright?” Qin Ruonan approached and asked gently.

Startled from her daze, Qian Yuling suddenly covered her face with both hands, then collapsed to her knees with a thud, bursting into loud sobs. The unexpected outburst shocked Qin Ruonan, who quickly knelt beside her and tried to help her up. But Qian Yuling refused to rise, resisting all attempts, forcing Qin Ruonan to relent.

The “fierce-faced man” watched silently, then sighed and stepped forward to lift Qian Yuling from the floor with some effort. Raising his head, he looked at An Changpu and Qin Ruonan helplessly and said, “I’ll speak for us—we have come to surrender.”